Using blood tests and imaging to track treatment response in multiple myeloma
Official title: Integrating liquid biopsy-based epigenetic and imaging modalities to evaluate disease response in multiple myeloma
Funded at University of Chicago · NIH-10893547 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how blood tests and imaging scans can work together to help doctors better understand how well treatments are working for people with multiple myeloma, making it easier and less invasive than traditional methods.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $631,736 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA280637-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10893547 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults diagnosed with multiple myeloma who are undergoing treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have multiple myeloma or are not receiving treatment for the disease may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how liquid biopsies, which analyze blood samples, can be combined with imaging techniques like PET/CT scans to better evaluate how patients with multiple myeloma respond to treatment. By focusing on measurable residual disease (MRD), the study aims to provide a less invasive and more accurate method for monitoring disease progression and treatment effectiveness. The approach seeks to overcome limitations of traditional bone marrow biopsies, which can be invasive and may not always provide a complete picture of the disease. Patients will be monitored through blood tests that assess specific epigenetic markers alongside imaging results.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more accurate and less invasive monitoring of multiple myeloma, improving treatment outcomes for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using liquid biopsies for monitoring cancer, suggesting that this approach could be effective for multiple myeloma as well.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chiu, Brian C-H — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Chiu, Brian C-H
Related research
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This project uses a blood test that reads DNA epigenetic marks together with PET/CT scans to better track disease in adults with multiple myeloma.
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This study is working on a new blood test that can help find early signs of breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and multiple myeloma, so patients can get diagnosed sooner and have better treatment options.
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A team at Dana-Farber and partners is pursuing a long-term project to understand the genetic and molecular drivers of multiple myeloma and how treatments interact with disease biology.
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A research team will build and compare computer models to understand how multiple myeloma develops, can be detected earlier, and treated more effectively.
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How LDL Affects Multiple Myeloma: New Pathways to Keep Remission
A new grant is studying how cholesterol from LDL particles fuels multiple myeloma and how this interaction influences the tumor environment and immune response, with goals to help patients stay in remission.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.